Chapter 2 Effina

Quick Note - I am going to denote thoughts in between dashes, and of course spoken words are in quotes


Chapter 2 - Effina


Effina sat gazing out the window, her fingers twirling a lock of her golden hair. She could hear the shuffle of servants, guards, nobles and likely the rest of Neisacan just outside the door. Ever since Emperor Gaston III vanished a week ago, the entire castle had been under siege. Everyone who was anyone was here, figuring out what to do.


The Judicars had been scouring the land, leaving no stone unturned. The Chantry assembled the Small Council yesterday. There was talk of crowning the infant heir, Ashelia and anointing the dowager empress's brother as acting Regent. Talk of what was going on was even reaching the Natrium. Effina would know…


She had been going there every Tuesday. She thought of going again today… it was Tuesday after all.


- No. You are Effina Bal'Lanark, eldest daughter of House Lanark, stewards of Yonkori, you do not belong in the Natrium - she told herself. But even as she did her hand was reaching for her head scarf. She wrapped it carefully around her head and changed into some servants clothes she had taken from the basement quarters. She had been staying at Castle Yonkori with her brother Edrion who had been hosting the royal family for their summer holiday here.


She ducked around a corner and tip toed by her brother's room. The guards did not glance at her twice as she existed the side of the house, to them she looked like any other servant.


She tugged at her scarf as she left the Reserve, and the city walls, making her way down slowly to the Natrium. She first came here two years after they came to this land. She was with her father, visiting a Native merchant for some deal or another.


She took her usual seat at the cafe, ordered a drink and waited. It was not long before he came. He worked at the restaurant across the street. She saw him for the first time that same day two years ago, and since then… she was immediately drawn to him. She couldn't tell what it was about him. He was quite handsome, to be sure, but that was not it. No, it was something else. He glowed, he glowed with a certain kind of beauty that was rare in Yonkori. His hair was a light golden hue, like the glow of a morning sun, cut short in the Native fashion. His cheeks were high and framed his face well, his eyes a bright blue with specks of silver. He wore a light grey tunic today, with a dark vest over it. She took a sip of her dark blue nectar, it was bitter.


She came here every Tuesday, a day she knew he worked, against her better judgement and her father's disapproving look she could see in her mind's eye.


Today was the day, she told herself. She was going to ask. She called for her waiter.


"Excuse me, but do you know who that man is?" She motioned over in his direction.


"Sorry miss, I do not, I see him coming to work everyday from the west though, guessing he lives on Boulevard Etoile. You could try there."


"Thank you…"


Well, that was weeks of preparing herself mentally gone down the drain. I guess he could remain anonymous, again. Maybe next week…


She wondered though, who he was. What did he do on every day but Tuesday. Did he have any family. Did he have any family before the invasion… Her mind wandered like it oft did when she was here. She wondered about the others. Who were these Simkis… no, not Simkis, remember they are Natives. Whoever they were, they seemed full of life, even now. She wondered about their families. She wondered about whether the children running in the streets had enough food to eat. She wondered… sometimes… what they, the Neisaci, were doing here… Sometimes…


She grabbed her coat off her chair and adjusted her head scarf so only her purple eyes were showing. Effina walked a bit back towards the Reserve, turned around and walked back towards the cafe. She turned again, changing her mind. A few meters though and she turned, this time determined. She walked towards the restaurant and as the man grew closer, her heart beat faster. Closer and faster. She drew a quick breath… and walked right by the restaurant, moving so close to him that she brushed her arm against his cloak. She walked hurriedly across the street back to the cafe and half-walked, half-ran back to the city wall.


- Stupid Effina… what are you doing - Time for more images! So much fun


Bit of backstory on the looks though first The Lanarks are known for their purple eyes, which you can see on siblings Edrion and Effina. They are one of the richest Neyreens, so their clothes usually show such. House Neisaci (the royal family) on the other hand is famed for the silver hair and knowing golden eyes oft seen in the family. Anyway, onto the images!


Effina could not sleep Monday night... her mind and heart were elsewhere





Tuesday afternoon, Effina lost in thought looking out the window





After she decides her mind, she headed out to the garden where no one else was looking.





She quickly changes into a disguise (I didn't like the head scarf looks hah so I chose a completely inconspicuous hat instead hah, and ordinary looking clothes)





Effina sneaks out the side of the house





At the same time, Edrion is waiting for an audience with the Regent in the Great Hall.





He soon wonders where his sister might be, since he has not seen her for a long while.





He looks for her along the hall of arches





And a few images of the infant heir herself, Ashelia Bal'Neisaci (infants didn't really have decadent clothing choices hah, so I just tried to make it look as nice as I could...) She is just happily entertaining herself in the sitting room of the summer castle.





She has no idea what has been going on, happily chewing her hand.





Let me know if you guys think the character are matching what they seem like from the main story Thanks!